Read the Department of State Fact Sheet on Aruba for additional information on U.S. – Aruba relations.

Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements

Upon arrival in Aruba, you must have: (1) a U.S. passport valid for the duration of your stay; (2) a completed Embarkation and Disembarkation Card (ED-Card); (3) a return or onward ticket; and (4) proof of sufficient funds to cover your accommodations and food expenses during your stay. For stays longer than 30 days, see Aruba’s extension of stay upon entry requirements. You can complete the ED-Card in advance of your trip online.

U.S. citizens do not require a visa to travel to Aruba.U.S. citizens are allowed to stay in Aruba without a visa or permit for a maximum consecutive period of six months each calendar year. If you want to stay longer than 180 days, or if you want to work, you must apply for a residence permit from the Directorate of Alien Integration, Policy and Admission (DIMAS).

Crimes of opportunity, such as pickpockets and purse snatching particularly at beaches, hotel lobbies, or from cars are common. Accordingly,

Be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to secure personal property.

Do not leave valuables in cars in plain view or unattended in unsecured hotel rooms and rental homes.

Keep a copy of your valid U.S. passport in a secure location in case your passport is stolen.

Incidents of violent crime, including rape and armed robbery – although not common – do occur. Exercise caution when visiting more isolated areas on the island.

There is an increased risk of crime in the San Nicolas district, especially at night.

Theft of rental vehicles, can occur. Vehicle leases and rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged.

Parents of young travelers should be aware that the legal drinking age of 18 is not always enforced, so extra parental supervision may be appropriate. Travelers should take standard safety precautions when frequenting nightclubs and bars. Travel in pairs or groups and, if you consume alcohol, do so responsibly. Take precautions to avoid consuming spiked beverages, e.g., do not leave your drink unattended or accept open containers from strangers.

If you or someone you know becomes a victim of crime, you should contact the local police and the U.S. Consulate in Curacao. Do not rely on hotel, restaurant, or tour company management to make the police report for you.

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes that occur on Aruba.

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Consulate in Curacao for assistance. If you are in immediate danger, first contact the local police at 100. Call 911 for medical assistance.

Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

In Aruba, laws against possession of controlled substances are enforced rigorously, including against tourists in possession of marijuana for personal use.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Consulate in Curacao immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Local law is based on Dutch law, which allows for the detention of subjects during an investigation with the approval of a judge. Persons detained in Aruba do not have the option of posting bond for their release.

Dual Nationality: Dutch law, in principle, does not permit dual nationality. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For detailed information, contact the The Netherlands Embassy in Washington, DC, or one of the Dutch Consulates in the United States.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Aruba. Seeour LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights Report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: While on Aruba, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different than in the United States. Sidewalks and crossings in many areas are not wheelchair accessible, and many buildings lack ramps.

There is one hospital, Dr. H.E. Oduber Hospital, which provides services comparable to a small hospital in the U.S. The hospital has tiered health care with accomodations varying according to insurance and ability to pay.

There is no decompression chamber in Aruba. Persons suffering from decompression sickness must be medically evacuated for proper treatment.

Not all medical specialties are represented in Aruba. Critically ill patients requiring service not offered at Dr. H.E. Oduber Hospital are transferred to Colombia. If medical evacuation is authorized by the patient’s insurance carrier or funded privately (approximately $15,000 – 25,000), patients can be transferred to the United States.

In addition to Dr. H.E. Oduber Hospital, there is a 24/7 walk-in clinic, Urgent Care Aruba, for non-life threatening illnesses and injuries. Urgent Care Aruba, located at Noord 63 (3-5 minutes from Aruba’s high-rise hotels), offers pick-up and drop-service for a fee.

There is a small medical center, Centro Medico, in San Nicolas. The clinic is located at Bernhardstraat 75 and can be reached by car, taxi, or bus (line 1).

Phone numbers for health and service providers in Aruba:

Ambulance: 911

Hospital: +(297) 527-4000

Urgent Care Aruba: +(297) 586 0448

Centro Medico San Nicolas: +(297) 524-8833

Aruba is only 12 degrees from the equator, so the solar radiation is very strong. Sunscreen is recommended anytime you are outside during the day.

Medicines: Bring all necessary medications with you. Carry prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. The variety of drugs available locally is smaller and limited than in the U.S For most medicines, you will need a local prescription. Pharmacies (called “boticas”) provide prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Boticas normally operate Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 7 pm. One botica stays open at night and on weekends according to an on-call schedule. To find out which pharmacy is available after hours, you can visit pharmacy on duty in Aruba, or check with your hotel.

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby as well as through sexual contact. The CDC has concluded that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects in some fetuses and babies born to infected mothers. Zika outbreaks have been reported in Aruba. For additional information about Zika, including travel advisories, visit the CDC website.

Chikunguya and Dengue are mosquito-borne illnesses that are becoming more frequent in tropical and equatorial climates around the world. Preventing mosquito bites is the most important way to prevent these illnesses. Travelers should carry and use CDC recommended insect repellents.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Proceed through intersections with caution as traffic signs are often hidden or nonexistent. Roads are very slippery when it rains. Watch out for scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs, as drivers of these vehicles do not strictly follow traffic rules. Be alert for speeding cars and drunk drivers. In rural areas, watch out for goats and other animals that cross the road unexpectedly. Night driving is reasonably safe, as long as drivers are familiar with the route and road conditions. Roads are not as well-lit as in theUnited States. Driving while intoxicated is punishable by fine and imprisonment.

Traffic Laws:

You can drive in Aruba with a valid U.S. driver’s license.

Drivers approaching roundabouts must yield to traffic already in the roundabout.

Right turns at red lights are prohibited. U-turns are often restricted.

Traffic signs prohibiting actions have a red circle around them, but not the red slash you expect to see in the United States.

Local law requires drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, and motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Children must ride in the back seat, and children under 5 years of age must be in a child safety seat.

In the event of an accident, do not move your car or pull over to alleviate a traffic jam caused by the accident. If an accident occurs, dial 100 to inform the police and call the rental car company and the insurance company immediately.

Public Transportation: Taxis, while relatively expensive, are safe and well regulated. Taxis do not have meters. Determine the price in advance, as rates are based on destination rather than mileage. Buses provide convenient and inexpensive service to and from many hotels and downtown shopping areas. Buses run every 15 minutes between 5:45 am and 6 pm, and every 40 minutes between 6 pm and 11:30 pm. The central bus station in downtown Oranjestad is located across the road from the cruise terminal next to Royal Plaza.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Aruba’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Aruba’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

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